Stream INT

Homeschooling outside the United States.

Eleven international regions are covered in the field guide. In our assessment, the legal regime varies more across countries than across US states. Some regimes (Germany, Sweden, Turkey) effectively prohibit home education. Others (UK, Norway, Australia, Israel) permit it with registration. The right starting point depends on which regime applies.

Publishers, by tradition

By region, starting points include:

• United Kingdom and Ireland

  Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 (England) is the foundational statute. Galore Park, CGP Books, Schofield and Sims, Letts.

• Canada

  Province-by-province. Alberta has dual-track registration with funding (~$901 per student). Northwood Press publishes Canadian history.

• Continental Europe

  Germany prohibits Schulpflicht. France since LOI 2021-1109 requires prior authorization for four authorized motifs. Italy, Spain, Poland permit with notification.

• Nordic

  Sweden effectively bans homeschool since 2010. Norway, Denmark, Finland permit with municipal supervision. Iceland requires teacher certification.

• East Asia

  Japan: futoukou (truancy) recognized; online accredited high schools include N High Kadokawa Dwango. South Korea: no formal homeschool law. China: Article 14 Compulsory Education Law forbids.

• Southeast Asia

  Philippines: DepEd Order 21 official Home School Program; providers include Homeschool Global (TMA), Catholic Filipino Academy, Lighthouse Christian Academy. Singapore: MOE exemption process.

• South Asia

  India: NEP 2020 + NIOS pathway.

• Oceania

  Australia: state-by-state registration. New Zealand: Section 38 Education and Training Act 2020 plus NZ$796 supervisory allowance per child.

• Latin America

  Brazil: constitutional uncertainty post-2018 STF ruling; ANED estimates 75,000 families. Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Peru: examination pathways through CENEVAL, examenes libres, ICFES.

• Africa

  South Africa: BELA Act 32 of 2024 maintained legality; ~100,000-140,000 learners. Nigeria, Kenya: tolerated.

• Middle East

  Israel: multi-stream framework (secular Mamlachti, religious Mamlachti Dati, Haredi exemption-institution, Anglo expat). UAE: restricted.

The first 90 days

• Week 1

  Identify the legal regime. Read the country section of the Every Homeschool field guide. Contact the national homeschool association if one exists. If the regime requires registration (Norway, Australia, NZ, France, Poland, Philippines), begin the registration paperwork now.

• Weeks 2 to 4

  Choose the curriculum direction. Options include Cambridge IGCSE (UK) or US Christian curricula (Abeka, BJU, Sonlight), depending on tradition and college-pathway plans.

• Weeks 5 to 8

  Settle into the daily rhythm. One option is an online accredited academy (Wolsey Hall, King's InterHigh, LUOA, Veritas Scholars Academy) for teacher oversight without the per-country curriculum chase.

• Weeks 9 to 13

  First portfolio entries per the country's requirements. Connect with local English-speaking homeschool families if possible.